Veil of Lies: Crispin Guest, Book 1

Crispin Guest is a disgraced knight, stripped of his rank and his honor - but left with his life - for plotting against Richard II. Having lost his bethrothed, his friends, his patrons and his position in society. With no trade to support him and no family willing to acknowledge him, Crispin has turned to the one thing he still has - his wits - to scrape a living together on the mean streets of London.

The Bookseller's Tale: Oxford Medieval Mysteries, Book 1

Oxford, Spring 1353. When young bookseller Nicholas Elyot discovers the body of student William Farringdon floating in the river Cherwell, it looks like a drowning. Soon, however, Nicholas finds evidence of murder. Who could have wanted to kill this promising student? As Nicholas and his scholar friend Jordain try to unravel what lies behind William's death, they learn that he was innocently caught up in a criminal plot.

Some Danger Involved: Barker & Llewelyn Series, Book 1

An atmospheric debut novel set on the gritty streets of Victorian London, Some Danger Involved introduces detective Cyrus Barker and his assistant, Thomas Llewelyn, as they work to solve the gruesome murder of a young scholar in London's Jewish ghetto. When the eccentric and enigmatic Barker takes the case, he must hire an assistant, and out of all who answer an ad for a position with "some danger involved", he chooses downtrodden Llewelyn, a gutsy young man with a murky past.

The Heiress of Linn Hagh

Northumberland, 1809: A beautiful young heiress disappears from her locked bedchamber at Linn Hagh. The local constables are baffled and the townsfolk cry "witchcraft". The heiress' uncle summons help from Detective Lavender and his assistant, Constable Woods, who face one of their most challenging cases.

What Angels Fear: Sebastian St. Cyr, Book 1

It's 1811, and the threat of revolution haunts the upper classes of King George III's England. Then a beautiful young woman is found savagely murdered on the altar steps of an ancient church near Westminster Abbey. A dueling pistol found at the scene and the damning testimony of a witness both point to one man - Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a brilliant young nobleman shattered by his experience in the Napoleonic Wars.

The Red Hill: Thomas Berrington, Volume 1

In 1482 the Englishman Thomas Berrington is living in the last remnants of Moorish Spain. A physician, he is an unwilling friend to the most powerful man in the kingdom. When bodies start to turn up, each showing the marks of a savage attack, Thomas is asked to investigate.

Pickpocket's Apprentice

When magistrate Patrick Colquhoun orders a habitual thief and ne'er-do-well transported to Botany Bay, he doesn't realize a 14-year-old boy has been left behind to follow in his father's footsteps - not until young John Pickett is hauled into Bow Street for stealing an apple from the produce market at Covent Garden. Feeling to some extent responsible for the boy, Mr. Colquhoun prevails upon Elias Granger, a prosperous coal merchant, to take him on as an apprentice.

The Invention of Fire: A Novel

Though he is one of England's most acclaimed intellectuals, John Gower is no stranger to London's wretched slums and dark corners, and he knows how to trade on the secrets of the kingdom's most powerful men. When the bodies of 16 unknown men are found in a privy, the sheriff of London seeks Gower's help. The men's wounds - ragged holes created by an unknown object - are unlike anything the sheriff's men have ever seen. Tossed into the sewer, the bodies were meant to be found.

A Burnable Book: A Novel

London, 1385: Surrounded by ruthless courtiers - including his powerful uncle, John of Gaunt, and Gaunt's artful mistress, Katherine Swynford - England's young king, Richard II, is in mortal peril. Songs are heard across London - catchy verses said to originate from an ancient book that prophesies the ends of England's kings - and among the book's predictions is Richard's assassination. Only a few powerful men know that the cryptic lines derive from a "burnable book", a seditious work that threatens the stability of the realm.

A Curious Beginning

As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry - and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

The King's Spy

Summer, 1643: England is at war with itself. King Charles I has fled London, his negotiations with Parliament in tatters. The country is consumed by bloodshed. For Thomas Hill, a man of letters quietly running a bookshop in the rural town of Romsey, knowledge of the war is limited to the rumours that reach the local inn. When a stranger knocks on his door one night and informs him that the king's cryptographer has died, everything changes.

Shadow of the Serpent: An Inspector McLevy Mystery 1

London had Sherlock Holmes. The dark alleys of Edinburgh had Inspector McLevy. Known as the father of forensics and a likely influence on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, real-life police inspector James McLevy is here reinvented by David Ashton in a thrilling mystery - the first in a series - set in dark, violent Victorian Edinburgh.

Medicus: A Novel of the Roman Empire

Gaius Petrius Ruso is a divorced and down-on-his-luck army doctor who has made the rash decision to seek his fortune in an inclement outpost of the Roman Empire, namely Britannia. After a 36-hour shift at the army hospital, he succumbs to a moment of weakness and rescues an injured slave girl, Tilla, from the hands of her abusive owner. And before he knows it, Ruso is caught in the middle of an investigation into the deaths of prostitutes working out of the local bar.

The King's Hounds: 1

The year is 1018 and the war with England is finally over, but the unified kingdom ruled by Cnut of Denmark is far from peaceful. Halfdan has lost everything to the war but his sense of humor. Once a proud nobleman, now he wanders the country aimlessly powered only by his considerable charm and some petty theft. When he finds an unlikely ally in Winston, a bookish former monk, the two set out together for Oxford, the seat of the new king.

It's 1763. Career diplomat Alec Halsey returns to London and the shocking news his estranged elder brother, the Earl of Delvin, has not only killed his friend in a duel but become engaged to the woman he had hoped to marry. When Alec reluctantly attends a weekend house party to celebrate his brother's engagement he gets more than he bargained for when a lady's maid is murdered, the bride-to-be is attacked, and a guest is shot dead.

Temple of the Grail: Rosicrucian Quartet, Book 1

Situated high in the Pyrenees the monastery of St. Lazarus is a forbidding place. Behind its ramparts and battlements it hides a secret so dangerous its keepers will kill to protect it. At the end of a bitter winter, a delegation headed by the ambitious Inquisitor Rainiero Sacconi arrives to investigate the monks of St. Lazarus.

A Useful Woman: A Rosalind Thorne Mystery, Book 1

The daughter of a baronet and minor heiress, Rosalind Thorne was nearly ruined after her father abandoned the family. To survive in the only world she knew, she began to manage the affairs of some of London society's most influential women, who rely on her wit and discretion. So when artistocratic wastrel Jasper Aimesworth is found dead in London's most exclusive ballroom, Almack's, Rosalind must use her skills and connections to uncover the killer.

Too Happy says:"I was looking for an entertaining read. I found that, and more."

The Hangman's Daughter

When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play in his small Bavarian town. When more children disappear and an orphan is found dead with the same mark, the mounting hysteria threatens to erupt. Before the unrest forces him to torture and execute the woman who aided in the birth of his children, Jakob must unravel the truth.

Publisher's Summary

When a corpse turns up at his favorite tavern, Crispin Guest - disgraced knight turned detective - begins an inquiry, but the dead man turns out to be a Templar knight, an order thought to be extinct for 75 years, charged with protecting a certain religious relic which is now missing. Before he can begin to investigate, Crispin is abducted by shadowy men who are said to be minions of the French anti-pope. Further complicating matters are two women: one from court with an enticing proposition, and another from Crispin's past, dredging up long-forgotten emotions he would rather have left behind. And as if all that weren't enough, a cunning young cutpurse by the name of Jack Tucker has insinuated himself into Crispin's already difficult life. The deeper Crispin probes into the murder, the more it looks like the handiwork of an old friend turned adversary. With enemies from all sides, Crispin has his hands full in more than murder in this intriguing prequel to the acclaimed series.

Crispin Guest - he's a man who has been betrayed by people he thought were his friends. Guest, who was once a knight, has his title, money, and lands taken from him. Now he has to make a living as a "tracker" - someone who finds things or people for a price. Since the story is set under Richard II in England in the late 14th century, social classes are very distinct.

What about Tim Campbell’s performance did you like?

I love this man's voice. My cats love his voice, too. He does a great job with all the different voices from different classes, and his women's voices are good, too.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed often at the interaction between Crispin and Jack Tucker, the eleven year old boy who sort of becomes Crispin's assistant - Jack is kept busy running to the tavern for wine, cleaning up Crispin's messy room, etc.

Any additional comments?

This is the prequel to six books in the Crispin Guest series. Audible has these six books, and the author has recently announced that there are more to come.

This book made me feel I was really in London in the time of Richard II. The mystery is tangled and intriguing, and the descriptions of the environment and people are just wonderful. The character of Crispin is particularly compelling. He was convicted of treason, publicly stripped of his title and property, and turned out on the streets to starve. Alone, impoverished, and thoroughly disgraced, he still clings to his pride and sense of honor. The narrator did a wonderful job with characters from many different levels of society. Bravo!

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

I may be late to the party when it comes to Jeri Westerson and her Crispin Guest novels, but I’m glad I came. I picked this book up on a whim, not really knowing what to expect from it. “Cup Of Blood” is set in England in the time period of Richard II, Crispin is a down on his luck man who lost his knighthood, his land and his privileged lifestyle. Crispin’s path soon crosses with a homeless pick-pocket named Jack Tucker, who has been living by his wits on the streets since age eight. The two find themselves working together to solve a mystery involving the holy grail and a murdered Templar knight. “Cup Of Blood” is the prequel to Ms. Westerson’s Crispin Guest series so it works out perfectly for me when it comes to the reading order for the series.

Tim Campbell does a wonderful job narrating this book. I really enjoyed listening to him, partly because of his skill as a narrator and partly because he is blessed with some great pipes. Based on the strength of “Cup Of Blood,” I can easily see myself picking up the whole series. Finally, this audio book was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an honest review, courtesy of Audio Book Boom.

Loved the full cast, the accents, the ambient sounds. This was done immersively well! The stories are captivating and exciting, and the performances catch all of the subtle nuances that come from conversations so that it didn't feel like a book reading. I definitely recommend this. -

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Wow, this book was a joy to listen to! It's full of twists and turns, great characters and secrets upon sectrets. Being a noir story, there's also a sexy dame in distress that appears in the "detective's office". It was a lot of fun to re-visit the trope in a medieval setting :D

I admit I half-chose the book because the guy on the cover is handsome, but lemme tell you, Jeri Westerson is a great writer! Especially with characters (I loved both Jack and Crispin, and even the french villain) and the plot, which unfolds beautifully.

And of course, Tim Campbell's voice sounds like dark 90% chocolate, which is appropriate, since this is a noir mystery :D I enjoyed his narration very much.

My heartfelt thanks to the author, narrator, or publisher for providing me this audiobook via Audiobook Boom at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review.

I listened to the sample narration and read the publisher summary and decided to ask for this book in exchange for an unbiased review. So happy I did! This was a very well-written and imagined story that the narrator captured quite expertly. I immediately searched for more by both the author and narrator and I will gladly follow Lord Guest the world over!

Would you consider the audio edition of Cup of Blood to be better than the print version?

I own the Kindle version of Cup of Blood and did the Whispersynch experience. I read at a fast pace, this isn't usually a satisfying method for me. But, in this case, it was enjoyable! The book and audio version compliment each other.

What other book might you compare Cup of Blood to and why?

There are nine or so books in the Crispen Guest Medieval series. So there are those. And what I though as I listened and read this is the "Thieves' World" anthologies / novels by Lynn Abbey, Robert Asprin, Janet Morris and other writers. This is a time tested favorite series of mine. So this can be considered a big complement.

Which scene was your favorite?

The work is abundant in scenes that were interesting to me. The taverns, the street scenes, ...

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The mystery itself. Though simple, it was appropriate to the historic time that this series takes place in.

Any additional comments?

I have read several Kindle versions in this series. The Audible version of Cup of Blood was a great listen along. <br/><br/>This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com

The story is set in the time of knights and ladies but the hero, Crispin, is a former knight who is forced to make a living as a commoner. He becomes a "tracker" or a private detective. Crispin is forced to face his past when he investigates a poisoning and the suspect turns out to be his former best friend Stephen, the man responsible for Crispin's downfall. Throw in his former fiancée, Knight Templars, and a beautiful lady with a bad reputation and you have a story that delivers on the action.

One of the most memorable parts of the story was that we finally find out the background of Jack Turner, the young boy who is Crispin's servant (and sidekick). Jack is a continuing character who appears in the other books in the series and my favorite character (sorry Crispin! ).

A rivetting story...well interwoven plots.certainly the story entralls but, sadly not the narrator...had to grit my teeth on times.I would guess from the sometimes heard accent and strange intonations, the narrator was not a native english speaker....the strangely pronounced words were a distraction on times.and english characters seemed to speak with a forign accent !

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Richard

LA BROUSSE, France

5/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Awful Narration"

The narration was stilted and robotic, (think speaking clock!) for the majority of this book, apart from when the boy Jack was speaking, which spoilt it for me. The pronunciation was Americanised although the story is set in England and was annoying too. The story was OK but a bit far fetched. On the positive side, the historical facts at the end were interesting. Would I listen to it again? No!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Amazon Customer

8/21/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"a great prequel ☺"

It was wonderful to get more of an insight to how Crispin and Jack met and the background to his first love

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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